Travelling boom for rock bolting machine and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A rock bolting machine for installing a rock bolt in a roof of an underground space is provided. The rock bolting machine can include a vehicle having a direction of travel, a rock bolting apparatus having a drilling portion adapted to drill a hole in the roof of the underground space and a bolting portion adapted to install a rock bolt in a hole created with the drilling portion. A boom can be provided with the distal end of the boom connected to the rock bolting apparatus and the proximal end moveably connected to the vehicle. Movement of the proximal end of the boom in the direction of travel of the vehicle causes the distal end of the boom to move in the same direction.

The present invention relates to a rock bolting machine that includes a vehicle and is used to drill a bolt hole and install a rock bolt in a roof of an underground space. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rock bolting machine that uses a travelling boom to support a rock bolting apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Rock bolts are installed in the roofs of mines, tunnels and other underground spaces for securing the roof of the mine in place and preventing the roof from collapsing when the mine is in use and workers may be in the mine. First, a bolt hole is drilled in the mine roof and then a rock bolt is secured in the drilled bolt hole.

It is common for the rock bolts to be installed by using a vehicle with a rock bolting apparatus attached to a boom. The rock bolting apparatus can be raised or lowered using the boom so that the rock bolting apparatus can come into contact with the roof of the mine to drill a bolt hole and install a rock bolt in the drilled bolt hole. The purpose of the boom is to position the rock bolting apparatus well out in front of the vehicle so that the vehicle and the operator of the vehicle can remain under a portion of the mine roof that has already been rock bolted and secured.

However, because the underground spaces where the rock bolts are being installed are often narrow and tight, it is often hard to maneuver a vehicle through these underground spaces. While having a boom extending far out in front of the vehicle with a rock bolting apparatus attached to the end of the boom is useful to allow the vehicle to remain under a portion of the mine roof that has already been bolted while a rock bolt is being installed, this long boom can make it even more difficult to maneuver the vehicle around underground and in other confined spaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a rock bolting machine for installing a rock bolt in a roof of an underground space is provided. The rock bolting machine can include a vehicle having a direction of travel and a rock bolting apparatus having a drilling portion adapted to drill a hole in the roof of the underground space and a bolting portion adapted to install a rock bolt in a hole created with the drilling portion. A boom can be provided between the vehicle and the rock bolting apparatus with a distal end of the boom connected to the rock bolting apparatus and a proximal end moveably connected to the vehicle.

In a further aspect, the proximal end of the boom is moveable relative to the vehicle, substantially in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

In a further aspect, movement of the proximal end of the boom in the direction of travel of the vehicle causes the distal end of the boom to move the same distance in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rock bolting machine;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the rock bolting machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the rock bolting machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a close up view of a distal end of a boom on the rock bolting machine;

FIG. 5 is close up view of the distal end of the rock bolting machine with the distal end of the boom moved to an operating position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the rock bolting machine in a transport position;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the rock bolting machine in a transport position;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the rock bolting machine in an operating position; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of the rock bolting machine in an operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a rock bolting machine 10 that is used to travel in a mine or other underground space and install rock bolts in the roof of the underground space. The rock bolting machine 10 can comprise a vehicle 20 and a rock bolting apparatus 50 connected to the vehicle 20 by a boom 30. The boom 30 can be attached to a rock bolting apparatus 50 so that the boom 30 extends out in front of the vehicle 20 and positions the rock bolting apparatus 50 out in front of the vehicle 20. An operator can maneuver the rock bolting machine 10 so that the rock bolting apparatus 50 is positioned under a spot on the roof of the underground chamber where a rock bolt is going to be installed and then the rock bolting apparatus 50 can be placed against the roof of the underground space using the boom 30 and the rock bolting apparatus 50 used to first drill a bolt hole for the rock bolt and then install a rock bolt in the drilled bolt hole. By using the boom 30 to position the rock bolting apparatus 50 well out in front of the vehicle 20, the vehicle 20 can be operated under a portion of the roof in the underground space that has already been rock bolted.

The vehicle 20 can have a pair of rear wheels 12, a pair of front wheels 14 and an engine 13 so that the vehicle 20 is self-propelled and can move in a direction of travel. A cab 16 can be provided on the vehicle 20 so that an operator can sit in the cab 16 and operate the rock bolting machine 10. The cab 16 can have a front end 15, a back end 17, an outboard side 18 facing away from the vehicle 20 and an inboard side 19 facing inwards on the vehicle 20. In one aspect, the vehicle 20 can be hydraulic powered to drive the rear wheels 12, the front wheels 14 or both the rear wheels 12 and the front wheels 14. The hydraulics can also be used to operate the boom 30 and the rock bolting apparatus 50.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the rock bolting apparatus 50 attached to a distal end 34 of the boom 30 that can be used to both drill a bolt hole and then install a rock bolt in the bolt hole. The rock bolting apparatus 50 can include a pick mast 110 and a drill bolt mast 130. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the pick mast 110 can be operatively connected to the distal end 34 of the boom 30 and can contain a pick 112 that can be extended out of a top of a pick guide 114. The head of the pick 112 can form a point for engaging a roof of an underground space. In one aspect, the extension and retraction of the pick 112 out of the pick guide 114 can be driven by a hydraulic cylinder.

The drill bolt mast 130 can be pivotally connected by a pivot point 132 to the pick mast 110 so that the drill bolt mast 130 can be rotated around this pivot point 132 while the pick mast 110 remains stationary. An actuator 134 can be positioned between the pick mast 110 and the drill bolt mast 130 to rotate the drill bolt mast 130 around the pivot point 132. In one aspect, the actuator 134 can be a hydraulic cylinder.

The drill bolt mast 130 can have a frame 135 with a top plate 136 and a nub 138 extending upwards above the top plate 136. The nub 138 can be forcibly retracted downwards toward the top plate 136 and is connected to a switch to stop the boom 30 from continuing to move the rock bolt apparatus 50 after the nub 138 has been depressed. In this manner, when the nub 138 is depressed the rock bolt apparatus 50 and specifically the top plate 136 of the drill bolt mast 130 is against the roof of the underground space.

The drill bolt mast 130 can include a drilling portion 140 and a bolting portion 160. The drilling portion 140 is used to first drill a bolt hole in the roof of the underground space. When the bolt hole has been drilled, the drill bolt mast 130 can then be rotated around the pivot point 132 until the bolting portion 160 lines up with the bolt hole and the bolting portion 160 used to install a rock bolt in the bolt hole.

The drilling portion 140 can have a drill guide frame 142 that can be moved vertically relative to the frame 135 of the drill mast 130 as well as guide a drill rod 144 that can be moved vertically relative to the drill guide frame 142 as the drill rod 144 is rotated and moved upwards relative to the drill guide frame 142. The drill guide frame 142 can extend vertically and be movable so that a top end of the drill guide frame 142 can be positioned against the top plate 136 of the drill bolt mast 130 or moved downwards to create a space between the top of the drill guide frame 142 and bottom of the top plate 136.

A foot plate 146 can be provided on the bottom of the drill guide frame 142 to protect the elements of the drilling portion 140 from being damaged if the bottom of the drilling portion 140 accidentally comes into contact with the floor of the underground chamber while the rock bolting apparatus 50 is being maneuvered into place.

The drilling portion 140 can both rotate the drill rod 144 and move the drill rod 144 upwards relative to the drill guide frame 142 and the frame 135 of the drill bolt mast 130 to drill a bolt hole where the rock bolt will be installed.

The bolting portion 160 of the rock bolting apparatus 50 is used to fasten a rock bolt 164 into the bolt hole that has been created by the drilling portion 140. The bolting portion 160 can have a bolting guide frame 162 that allows a bolting assembly 170 to move vertically along bolting guide frame 162. The bolting guide frame 162 can extend vertically and be movable vertically relative to the frame 135 of the drill bolt mast 130 so that a top end of the bolting guide frame 162 can be positioned against the top plate 136 of the drill bolt mast 130 or moved downwards to create a space between the top of the bolting guide frame 162 and bottom of the top plate 136 of the drill bolt mast 130.

A foot plate 166 can be provided on the bottom of the bolting guide frame 162 to protect the elements of the bolting portion 160 from being damaged if the bottom of the bolting portion 160 accidentally comes into contact with the floor of the underground space while the rock bolting apparatus 50 is being maneuvered into place.

The bolting portion 160 can both rotate the rock bolt 164 and move the rock bolt 164 upwards relative to the bolting guide frame 162 and the frame 135 of the drill bolt mast 130 to insert the rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole drilled by the drilling portion 140 of the drill bolt mast 130. Typically, the rock bolt 164 is first moved upwards into the drilled bolt hole and then only rotated by the bolting portion 160 when the rock bolt 164 has been inserted all the way into the bolt hole to secure the rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole.

In operation, the rock bolting apparatus 50 can be positioned against the roof of the underground space. Once in place against the roof of the underground space, the pick 112 in the pick mast 110 can be used to hold the rock bolting apparatus 50 against the roof while the rock bolting apparatus 50 is being used to drill a bolt hole and install a rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole by extending the pick 110 out of the top of the pick guide 114 and forcing it into the roof of the underground space. By engaging the roof in this manner, the extended pick 110 can hold the rock bolting apparatus 50 in place and prevent it from shifting its position on the roof while the bolt hole is being drilled and the rock bolt 164 is being installed in the drilled bolt hole.

Once the rock bolting apparatus 50 is secured in position using the pick 112, the drilling portion 140 on the drill bolt mast 130 can be used to drill a bolt hole. The drilling rod 144 can be rotated and forced upwards to bore the bolt hole in the roof of the underground space.

When the bolt hole has been drilled by the drilling portion 140, the drill rod 144 can be retracted from the bolt hole it has drilled and the bolting portion 160 can then be used to install a rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole. The drill bolt mast 130 can be pivoted around pivot point 132 using actuator 134 while the pick 112 keeps the rock bolting apparatus 50 in the same position relative to the roof. When the drill bolt mast 130 has pivoted so that the rock bolt 164 is positioned under the bolt hole, the pivoting of the drill bolt mast 130 can be stopped and the drilling portion 160 of the rock bolting apparatus 50 can be used to install the rock bolt 164 in the bolt hole.

With the rock bolt 164 positioned under the bolt hole, the bolting portion 160 can move the rock bolt 164 upwards to insert it in the drilled bolt hole. Once the rock bolt 164 is inserted into the bolt hole, the rock bolt 164 can be torqued to secure it in the bolt hole.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the boom 30 can be attached to the vehicle 20 at a proximal end 32 of the boom 30 and to the rock bolting apparatus 50 at the distal end 34.

The boom 30 can be formed of a number of telescoping sections 31 (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) so the boom 30 can be telescopically extended or retracted, allowing the length of the boom 30 to be increased or decreased. The proximal end 32 of the boom 30 can also be attached to the vehicle 20 so that the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 can move relative to the vehicle 20 in addition to allowing the boom 30 to be pivoted from side to side and up and down.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate views of the proximal end 32 of the boom 30. The proximal end 32 of the boom 30 can include a connection frame 302 that houses a boom motor 304, such as a hydraulic motor, attached to a connection panel 306. The boom motor 304 is operative to rotate the connection panel 306 relative to the connection frame 302. The proximal end 32 of the boom 30 can be attached at a pivot point 308 to the connection panel 306. By using the boom motor 304 to rotate the connection panel 306 relative to the connection frame 302, the boom 30 can be pivoted from side to side relative to the vehicle 20.

By having the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 attached to the pivot point 308 on the connection panel 306, the boom 30 can be pivoted upwards and downwards relative to the connection frame 302. An actuator 310, such as hydraulic cylinder, can be provided between the connection panel 306 and the boom 30 to pivot the boom 30 upwards and downwards around the pivot point 308.

The connection frame 302 can be attached to a track 320 having a first end 322 and a second end 324 so that the connection frame 302 and therefore the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 can move relative to the vehicle 20. Brackets 330 can be provided on the connection frame 302 that are slidably attachable to a pair of rails 332 on the track 320 so that the connection frame 302 can slidably move along the track 320.

A rack 340 can be provided running along the length of the track 320 that meshes with a pinion 342 attached to the connection frame 302. A pinion motor 344 can be provided to rotate the pinion 342. In this manner, the pinion motor 344 can be used to rotate the pinion 342 which will mesh with the rack 340 and thereby move the connection frame 302 along the track 320.

Stop brackets 350 can be positioned at the first end 322 of the track 320 to stop the connection frame 302 when it reaches the first end 322 of the track 320.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the cab 16 of the vehicle 20 can be offset to one side of the vehicle 20 with the cab 16 offset to one side of a center line of the vehicle 16 to allow space for the track 320 to be positioned running alongside the inboard side 19 of the cab 16 and allowing the track 320 to be positioned closer to a center line of the vehicle 20. Positioning the cab 16 so that the track 320 can run along beside the inboard side 19 of the cab 16 also allows the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 to be moved rearward behind the front end 15 of the cab 16 and beside inboard side 19 of the cab 16, further decreasing the overall length of the rock bolting machine 10 when it is in a transport position.

The track 320 can be positioned on the vehicle 20 so that the first end 322 of the track 320 is positioned alongside of the cab 16 and behind a front of the cab 16. The second end 324 of the track 320 can be positioned on the vehicle 20 so that when the connection frame 302 is moved to the first end 324 of the track 320, the connection frame 302 will be positioned over a spot between the front wheels 14 of the vehicle 20 so that the weight of the boom 30 and rock bolting apparatus 50 applied to the vehicle 20 at the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 is applied downwards between the front wheels 14. In one aspect, the connection frame 302 can be positioned over an axis of rotation of the pair of front wheels 14.

The movement of the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 relative to the vehicle 20 allows the rock drill machine 10 to be placed in a transport position for when the rock drill machine 10 is being driven somewhere and an operating position for when the rock drill machine 10 is being used to install a rock bolt in the roof of an underground space. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the rock bolting machine 10 in the transport position. In the transport position, the boom 30 is telescopically retracted to its most retracted and shortest length and the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 is moved to the first end 322 of the track 320. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the actuator 310 can be used to pivot the boom 30 substantially parallel to a ground surface and the boom motor 304 can be used to pivot the boom 30 so that it extends substantially straight ahead of the vehicle 20. The pinion motor 344 can be used to rotate the pinion 342 along the rack 340 until the connection frame 302 is moved to the first end 322 of the track 320.

Referring again to FIGS. 6 and 7, with the boom 30 placed in the transport position, the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 is placed alongside the cab 16 and behind the front end 15 of the cab 16 while the boom 30 is telescopically retracted to its shortest length. This can cause the rock bolting machine 10 to be much more maneuverable by reducing the overall length of the rock bolting machine 10 while in this transport position.

FIG. 8 shows the rock bolting machine 10 in the operating position and being used to install a rock bolt. The proximal end 32 of the boom 30 can be moved so that it is positioned at the second end 324 of the track 320 with the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 and the connection frame 302 positioned over the front wheels 14. In the operating position, the boom 30 can be telescopically extended to its desired length and the boom 30 pivoted upwards if required to reach a roof of the underground space.

FIG. 9 shows a top view of the rock bolting machine 10 with the boom 30 in an operating position. The boom 30 is telescopically extended and the proximal end 32 of the boom 30 and the connection frame 302 are moved to the second end 324 of the track 320. In addition to the boom 30 being pivotal upwards and downwards around the proximal end 32 the boom 30 can be pivoted from side to side.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention. 

1. A rock bolting machine for installing a rock bolt in a roof of an underground space, the rock bolting machine comprising: a vehicle having a direction of travel; a rock bolting apparatus having a drilling portion adapted to drill a hole in the roof of the underground space and a bolting portion adapted to install a rock bolt in a hole created with the drilling portion; and a boom having a distal end connected to the rock bolting apparatus and a proximal end moveably connected to the vehicle.
 2. The rock bolting machine of claim 1 wherein the boom extends from the proximal end of the boom away from the vehicle to the distal end of the boom.
 3. The rock bolting machine of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the boom is moveable relative to the vehicle, substantially in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
 4. The rock bolting machine of claim 3 wherein movement of the proximal end of the boom in the direction of travel of the vehicle causes the distal end of the boom to move in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
 5. The rock bolting machine of claim 4 wherein the distal end of the boom moves the same distance in the direction of travel of the vehicle as the proximal end of the boom.
 6. The rock bolting machine of claim 3 wherein the proximal end of the boom is pivotally connected to the vehicle so that the boom is pivotal upwards and downwards relative to the vehicle.
 7. The rock bolting machine of claim 6 wherein the proximal end of the boom is pivotally connected to vehicle so that the boom is pivotal from side to side relative to the vehicle.
 8. The rock bolting machine of claim 1 wherein the boom comprises telescoping sections so that the boom is extendable and retractable.
 9. The rock bolting machine of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the boom is connected to the vehicle by a track and the proximal end of the boom can be moved from a first end of the track to a second end of the track.
 10. The rock bolting machine of claim 9 wherein the track extends along the vehicle in substantially the direction of travel of the vehicle.
 11. The rock bolting machine of claim 10 further comprising a cab having a front end, an outboard side and inboard side, the cab offset from a center line of the vehicle and wherein at least a portion of the track extends along the inboard side of the cab.
 12. The rock bolting machine of claim 11 wherein the first end of the track is behind the front end of the cab.
 13. The rock bolting machine of claim 12 wherein the track is positioned on an other side of the center line of the vehicle from the cab.
 14. The rock bolting machine of claim 13 wherein the proximal end of the boom is moveable to the first end of the track where the proximal end of the boom is positioned behind a front end of the cab.
 15. The rock bolting machine of claim 9 wherein the boom is positionable between a transport position with the proximal end of the boom positioned at the first end of the track and an operating position with the proximal end of the boom positioned at the second end of the track.
 16. The rock bolting machine of claim 15 wherein the boom comprises telescoping sections so that the boom is extendable and retractable and wherein the boom is retracted when the boom is in the transport position.
 17. The rock bolting machine of claim 15 wherein the boom is extended when the boom is in the operating position.
 18. The rock bolting machine of claim 15 wherein proximal end of the boom is positioned between a pair of front wheels on the vehicle when the proximal end of the boom is positioned at the second end of the track.
 19. The rock bolting machine of claim 18 wherein the proximal end of the boom is positioned over an axis of rotation of the pair of front wheels of the vehicle.
 20. The rock bolting machine of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the boom is operably connected to the vehicle by: a connection frame; a boom motor attached to the connection frame; and a track attached to the vehicle and slidably connected to the connection frame, wherein the proximal end of the boom is attached to the boom motor so that the boom motor rotates the boom from side to side.
 21. The rock bolting machine of claim 20 wherein the proximal end of the boom is pivotally connected to the boom motor by a connection panel.
 22. The rock bolting machine of claim 21 wherein the proximal end of the boom is pivotally connected to the connection panel so that the boom pivots upwards and downwards relative to the connection panel.
 23. The rock bolting machine of claim 22 further comprising an actuator provided between the connection panel and the boom to pivot the boom upwards and downward relative to the connection panel
 24. The rock bolting machine of claim 23 wherein the track has a first end and a second end the connection frame is slidably moveable along the track between the first end of the track and the second end of the track.
 25. The rock bolting machine of the claim 24 wherein the at least a portion of the track extends along an inboard side a cab of the vehicle.
 26. The rock bolting machine of claim 25 wherein the first end of the track is positioned behind a front end of the cab.
 27. The rock bolting machine of claim 26 wherein the second end of the track positions the connection frame between a pair of front wheels on the vehicle.
 28. The rock bolting machine of claim 24 further comprising a rack on the track and a pinion, the pinion rotatable against the rack to move the connection frame along the track.
 29. The rock bolting machine of claim 20 wherein movement of the proximal end of the boom in the direction of travel of the vehicle causes the distal end of the boom to move in the direction of travel of the vehicle.
 30. The rock bolting machine of claim 29 wherein the distal end of the boom moves the same distance in the direction of travel of the vehicle as the proximal end of the boom. 